Find Lunch:

Fried Artichokes and a Decent Burrito (aka What Midtown Can Learn from Northern California…)

I spent the weekend in Northern California, and realized there are three things we desperately need for Midtown Lunch’ing:

#1. A fried artichoke sandwich. Had this at the Lighthouse Harbor Grill in Moss Landing, a town between Santa Cruz & Monterey known for its delicious (and plentiful) artichokes. You gotta a love a town that has so many artichokes every single restaurant in it serves a fried artichoke sandwich.

#2. A decent burrito. My quest to not eat Chiptole for an entire year is about to enter its 11 month (the official date I fall of the wagon is 7/18), and it takes just one bite of a burrito from California to justify my decision. A burrito from any random place on the West Coast is ten times better than anything we have here. Why can’t NYC make a decent burrito? Is it really that hard?

Here’s a shot of my Carnitas Super Burrito from Taqueria Marlen in Mountain View, CA. It might look the same as some of the burritos here in NYC, but don’t be fooled- the taste couldn’t be different.

#3. A Bouchon Bakery. Oh wait… we have one of those! I’ve gotta start taking advantage of this a little more often. A slice of Napa right in Columbus Circle. Check out a picture of their delicious Vegetable Jardiniere Sandwich, after the jump…

It may be a little pricey, but it’s the cheapest way to sample a little bit of Thomas Keller magic. The Bouchon Bakery in Yountville is cheaper than the one in the Time Warner Center… but the travel time is a tad bit shorter.

For more Northern California Food Porn, check out the Midtown Lunch Flickr Page

I am not a fan of burritos and fried artichokes sound a little weird to me. I love artichokes, warm with a little vinaigrette, eating leaf by leaf, love it.
Bouchon is good but each time I stop by the TWC I am stunned by the army of staff they have there, most just crossing their arms. They have the most annoying staff. Other than that, I love their food.

Go to Los Dos Molinos on 18th just east of Park Avenue South. They aren’t cheap Chipolte-style burritos (they are only open for dinner). Los Dos has 4 locations: 3 in Arizona and the one here–all family-owned. It is the most authentic place I have been to yet in NYC. Bring an appetite, a tolerance for spicy food and a thirst for margaritas.